More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj

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A Saudi authorities spokesperson says much than 1.5 cardinal overseas pilgrims are successful the state for this year's Hajj

ByBARAA ANWER Associated Press

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia -- More than 1.5 cardinal overseas pilgrims are successful Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a authorities spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hajj is 1 of the Five Pillars of Islam, a spiritual work involving rituals and acts of worship that each Muslim indispensable fulfil if they person the wealth and are physically capable to bash it.

Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate fig for foreigners astatine this year’s pilgrimage. He did not accidental however galore home pilgrims were taking part. Last year, determination were 1,611,310 pilgrims from extracurricular the country.

On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, immoderate making the travel connected foot, carrying their luggage done temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly.

People paused to beryllium connected the crushed to remainder oregon devour earlier heading to their camps.

Mount Arafat, a rocky elevation southeast of Mecca, holds immense value successful Islam. Arafat is mentioned successful the Quran and it is wherever the Prophet Muhammad is said to person fixed his past sermon connected his last Hajj.

According to accepted sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the astir ineffable time of the year, erstwhile God draws adjacent to the faithful and forgives their sins.

Pilgrims stay successful Arafat, successful supplication and reflection, from aft midnight until aft sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims volition spell to the godforsaken plain of Muzdalifah to cod pebbles, which they volition usage successful a ritual.

Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars connected assemblage power and information measures, but the wide of participants makes ensuring their information difficult. One of the top challenges astatine the Hajj successful caller years has been the heat.

Earlier successful the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees person been planted to supply much shade, determination is accrued infirmary furniture capacity, and the fig of paramedics has tripled.